But Cotterill is also amazed.
How can the team train here and stay at such a simple hotel?
In English elite football terms, it is highly modest facilities. Players worth billions of kronor are accommodated within a temporarily fenced-in grass pitch on Bosön on Lidingö.
The reason is partly economy.
The national team is and has always been the football association's financial engine. Every missed championship means that the association loses three-digit million amounts.
”Love a challenge”
The World Championship 2022 and the European Championship 2024 were decided without Sweden. When Jon Dahl Tomasson was hired as national team captain last spring, it was with the requirement that first advance in the Nations League - and then push the national team to the World Championship next summer.
He succeeded with the first task. His job depends on how it goes with the second. The pressure is enormous on him and the players.
The question is how he handles it behind the constant smile. Right well, he answers.
He calls the World Championship qualifying round the third phase.
I love a challenge. We have taken huge steps. Are we good? Yes, we are very good when we follow our principles. If we do not, like away to Luxembourg, we are a nightmare.
Clear and concrete playing style
In March and in June, it looked like Sweden when we played, even though there were different names in the teams. It is important because we have a very clear and concrete way of playing football.
The battle for the direct spot to the World Championship is considered to be between Switzerland and Sweden. The Slovenians hardly agree - and "JDT" warns rightly for what awaits at Stadion Stozice in Ljubljana.
We know that they played a draw against England, Serbia and Denmark and lost the round of 16 against Portugal on penalties in the European Championship. They are extremely good at fixed situations and their transitions are dangerous, he says.
For us, it's about trying to play quickly, play through them and use the spaces they give.
The World Championship qualifying round kicks off at 20.45 on Friday. Already on Monday next week, Kosovo awaits in Pristina.
The former Danish superstar Jon Dahl Tomasson took over as national team captain in the winter of 2024. Here are the results:
2024
2–5 (away) against Portugal
1–0 (home) against Albania
1–2 (away) against Denmark
0–3 (home) against Serbia
3–1 (away) against Azerbaijan (Nations League)
3–0 (home) against Estonia (Nations League)
2–2 (away) against Slovakia (Nations League)
3–0 (away) against Estonia (Nations League)
2–1 (home) against Slovakia (Nations League)
6–0 (home) against Azerbaijan (Nations League)
2025
0–1 (away) against Luxembourg
5–1 (home) against Northern Ireland
2–0 (away) against Hungary
4–3 (home) against Algeria
Result: Nine wins, one draw, four losses.
